Eurovision To Russia: Protect Your LGBT Citizens Or You’ll Never Host The Contest Again

Showing more integrity and courage than the International Olympic Committee could ever hope for. The Eurovision Song Contest has threatened to ban Russia from ever hosting another contest over its anti-gay propaganda laws.

Eurovision organizers have demanded they outline guarantees regarding creative freedom of the acts, and the safety of organizers and fans.

Speaking to Gay Star News, a Eurovision spokesman said: ‘As always with any hosting country, we ask for guarantees for security of all the people involved in the Eurovision Song Contest. ‘If Russia wins in the foreseeable future, and they tell us they cannot guarantee the safety of organizers or spectators, we will take action. It is one of the conditions of hosting Eurovision. The safety of our organizers, acts and spectators is our number one priority.’ If they fail to guarantee no gay person would be arrested under the homophobic legislation, like they have failed to do so at the Sochi Olympics in February 2014, then they will be banned from hosting the contest.

Already the country of Sweden has said that they will withdraw if Eurovision is ever held in Russia while its anti-gay LGBT laws are still on its books.

Last years Eurovision Contest held i n Sweden brought in 1.1 billion Swedish kronor ($177m, €132m) in advertising value alone.

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Will Kohler is one of America's well known LGBT historians, He is also a a accredited journalist and the owner of Back2Stonewall.com.
A longtime gay activist Will fought on the front lines of the AIDS epidemic with ACT-UP and continues fighting today for LGBT acceptance and full equality.
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